Gun mount



Aug. 29, 1944. .J. M. COLBY GUN MOUNT 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 27, 1942 "Au 29, 1944. J. m. CIOQLBY GUN MOUNT Filed June 27, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 pa a Q 110521311 I LEIulby J. M. COLBY Aug. 29, 1944..

GUN MOUNT' Filed June 27, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet I du e' h M. M @LWVZflW Patented Aug. 29, 1944 GUN MOUNT Joseph M. Colby, United States Army, Lake Mills, Iowa Application June 27, 1942, Serial No. 448,825

G anted under the act of March 3, 1883, as r amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 9 Claims.

standard machine guns for conjoint movement in an armored device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mounting which will permit a quick removal of machine guns therefrom and allow their immediate use on emergency tripods.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mounting for a pair of machine guns in an armored vehicle or other device, I

Fig. 2 is a view of the mounting in side elevation showing a portion of the armored front of a tank or other device, I

Fig. 3 is a view of the mount in rear elevation,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1,

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively plan and side elevational views of the gun cradle,

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the cradle showing an adapter seat and lock for one of the machine gun pintles,

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1 showing additional details of the pmtle seat and lock,

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the gun port and socket in a side of an armored device, and I Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 9.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a cradle I having a forwardly projecting arm 2 is pivotally secured by a pin assembly 3 adjacent a pair of gun ports 4 in an armored wall 5. The cradle is substanitally a Y-shaped member with a pair of rear arms 6, each of which is conditioned to receive the breech portion 1 of a machine gun. The muzzle ends 8 of the barrels 9 rest in transverse bores ill of cylindrical rotors I0 which are carried on the pin assembly 3 at the gun port 4. The rear of gun cradle l is connected through a pivot H to a hollow cylindrical plunger l2 which is telescopically mounted in a hollow sleeve 13 pivotal- 1y attached to a base [4. A compression spring I5 55 'arates the two grip elements maintains the ends of the plunger l2 and the sleeve 13 in a spaced relationship. This arrangement functions as an equilibrator and counterbalances the cradle for the preponderance of weight at the rear portion of the gun mounting.

Each machine gun is provided with a standard emergenc tripod pintle 16 which is secured to the gun by a suitable swivel pin. When a gun is mounted on the cradle l, the pintle I6 is received in a socket-like adapter seat I! and locked thereto in a manner which will be described in another part of the specification. A pin I8 carried by a chain I9 which is secured to the rear of the cradle is insertable in apertured lugs 20 on the cradle and a pair of aligned apertures in lugs on the breech portion of the gun thereby fastening the gun to the cradle.

A limited amount of elevation of the guns and their cradle is provided about pivot pin 3. A T-shaped operating lever 21 is secured to a lu 22 on cradle I by a pivot pin 23. A rearwardly depending arm 24 on the lever is pivotally attached to a link 25 which is in turn coupled to a collar 26 on the top of the relatively stationary cylinder l3 by a pivot pin 21. Secured to an car 28 on the cradle proper by suitable means is a fixed quadrant rack 29. A rigid horizontal grip element 30 and a pivoted grip element 3| are situated on the free end of the operating lever 2|. A rod 32 is arranged to slide through a pair of aligned bores 33 and 34 in the fixed grip and a lug 35 on the lever arm respectively. A toothed pawl 36 is secured to the lower end of the rod which projects'beyond the lug 35. Intermediate the grip and the lug is a coiled spring 31 which is in compression and bears on a fixed enlarged shoulder 38 on the rod and also against the top face of the lug 35. This normall sep- 30 and 3| as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and holds the toothed pawl 36 in engagement with the teeth of the quadrant rack 29 thereby securing the cradle in a selected position.

An ammunition chute-39 and a stand 4!] for ammunition trays are provided on the gun mount to feed both of the guns from the left hand side.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, each adapter seat I! for a machine gun pintle I6 is provided with a spring urged latch element 4| which is reciprocable in a guide member 42 that is secured to the lower surface of each arm 6 of the cradle. An arcuate end 43 is provided on each element 4| so that it will slip into an annular retaining groove 44 on a. pintle. A pair of springs 45 urge the latch element toward the axis of the adapter supporting socket on the tripod. Thus a standard machine gun may be expeditiously employed alternatively in the instant mount or on an emergency tripod without the useof any addithereby permitting the pintle to be unlocked and 5 tional special fittings. There results a saving in withdrawn from its seat. c I time and material and an increased efiiciency The pair of gun ports 4 in the armor 5 are profrom a military standpoint. vided with a multi-socket structure 48, see Figs. 9 I claim: and 10. A pair of spaced cylindrical sockets or 1. In a mounting for a gun, acradle pivoted journals 49 are. provided with front and rear .10 at one end to a support, an equilibrator on said openings 55 and 5| respectively and are adapted support and coupled to the other end of said to receive the hollow rotors 10 which support the cradle, articulated linkage between said cradle gun muzzles'8. Intermediate the sockets is a and said equilibrator, and adjustable means inchamber 52 which is adapted to receive the eX- terconnecting said linkage and said cradle for treme end of the forwardly extending arm 2 selectively retaining said cradle in a plurality of of the gun cradle which carries the pin 3. The positions about its pivot. pin is arranged to rotate in a bore 53 in the end 2. In a mounting for a gun, a cradle pivoted of the arm and is secured against the lateral at one end to a support, an equilibrator on said displacement by a screw 54 which rides in a support and coupled to the other end of said groove 55 in the pin (see Fig. 1). The jour- 0 cradle, a lever pivoted on said cradle, a rigid nals 49 are provided with open ends which are in projecting arm on said lever intermediate the a plane perpendicular to the axes of the rotors ends thereof, a link pivotally coupled to g the 10, thereby permitting the insertion of the roouter end of said arm and to said equilibrator tors. The front and rear p gs 50 and 5| a toothed rack on said cradle, a movable pawl are 0t S fi y large to permit the withon said lever for selective engagement with'said dra-wal of the rotors (see Fig. 10). rack when said lever is swung about its pivot,' The cradle is'mounted at the gun ports'as fol and means on said lever for controlling the enlows: The front end of arm 2 is inserted in chamgagement. of said pawl, said lever adapted for her 52 and then the pin 3,is inserted in bore 53 el ating or depressing said mounting. and secured against axial movement by screw 54. 3. In a gun mounting, a cradle pivoted at one The rotors are slipped into thejournals from the end to a support, an equilibrator on said support Side of the housin 48 d are Press fitted 0n andcoupled to the other end of said cradle, articto the ends of pin 3. The crad e is now D V ulated linkage between said cradle and said equilial y attached to the socket structure 48 on the brator, adjustable means interconnecting said armored wall 5 of the tank or other device. linkage and said cradle for selectively retaining 'The attachment of the guns in the mounting said cradle in a plurality of positions about its and its operation is as fOHOWSZ The gunrnuzzles pivot and means on said cradle for'securing 9, 8 are inserted in the bores ll! of the rotors Ii) and gun th r t then the. breech ends of the guns are lowered 4. In a mounting for a gun, a cradle pivoted until the pintles l6 are in alignment with their 40 atone end toa support, an equilibrator on said corresponding adapter seats l1. Pressure on the sup-port and coupled to the other end of said br p i of the n forcesthe pi into cradle, a lever pivoted on said cradle, a rigid prot e Se t W e e y e Secured y t e Sp jecting arm on said lever intermediate the ends pressed l elements M w h lo in the thereof, a link pivotally coupled to the outer end reta v s Pin I8 is then pp t 45 ofsaid arm and to said equilibrator, a toothed the aligned apertures in the lugs 20 On t e r e rack on said cradle, a movable pawl on said lever and the fastenin lugs 0 t e we ear o t for selective engagement with said rack when said un. The gun and its mount re now ready lever is swung about its pivot, a pivoted grip on for use. I the free end of said lever for controlling the en- The cradle is pivoted for elevation about an gagement of said pawl, means interconnecting axis through the pin 3adjacent the gun ports4. id pawl and aid grip, and means normally Y Squeezing e ip e ements 0 t maintaining said pawl in engagement with said ner isableto release the too e p 35 from rack whereby said lever is locked against moveengagement with the quadrant rack 29. Lever ment, said lever adapted for elevating or depress- 2! may now be oscillated about pivot 23 he an ing said mounting. axis. When the lever is depressed, the lazy 00 5. In a mounting'for a pair of guns, a cradle arrangement composed of arm 24 and link 25 is i ted at one end to a support, said support crushed. This lowers the rear end' of the cradle havin gun orts arranged to sustain a pair of and pushes the plunger l2 into the sleeve l3 gun barrels, an equilibrator on said support coua a s t resistance'of sp in W n t no p led to the other end of said cradle, articulated gun is elevated the required extent, the ps linkage between said cradle and said equilibrator, 3ll3l are released and the pawl 36 engages t and adjustable means interconnecting said linkrack 9 t e y king the gun against mOVeage and said cradle for selectively retaining said ment. Simi ar manipulations 0f the grips and a cradle in a plurality of positions about its pivotslight upward force on the lever arm 2| will 5 In a mounting f r a gun, a support having a depress t e gun muzzlewith h arrangemeflt gun port, a hollow member rotatably mounted in the guns and the cradle are quickly and easily said support atrsaid gun port, said member being g lign s nfifii e5 1.3%?when it is desired adapted to receive a gun barrel a cradle pivbted to remove the machine guns from the armored l g 2 an lfg fi device and mount them on emergency tripods. t e axls 0 San mem an eqm 1 m or 9 The release of two simple latches and two Said u F to the other of Sam pins permits instant withdrawal .of the guns le artlclllated lmkage bQtWEen Sald craFne from their cradle. Each gun may be quickly and said equilibrator, and adiustable means 1nmounted on a tripod by placing its pintle in a terconnecting said. linkageand said cradle for selectively retaining said cradle in a plurality of positions about its pivot.

'7. In a mounting for a gun, a support having a gun port, a hollow member rotatably mounted in said support at said gun port, said member being adapted to receive a gun barrel, a cradle pivoted at one end to said support on an axis coinciding with the axis of said member, an equilibrator on said support and coupled to the other end of said cradle, a lever pivoted on said cradle, a rigid projecting arm on said lever intermediate the ends thereof, a linkpivotally coupled to the outer end of said arm and to said equilibrator, a toothed rack on said cradle, a movable pawl on said lever for selective engagement with said rack when said lever is swung about its pivot, a pivoted grip on the free end of said lever for controlling the engagement of said pawl, means interconnecting said pawl and said grip, and means normally maintaining said pawl in engagement with said rack whereby said lever is locked against movement, said lever being adapted for movement elevating or depressing said mounting about its pivot.

mounting.

8. In a mounting for a gun, a supporting structure, a cradle pivoted at one end to said structure, a lever pivoted on said cradle, articulated linkage connecting said lever to said structure, a toothed rack on said cradle, a movable pawl on said lever for selective engagement with said rack when said lever is swung about its pivot, and means on said lever for controlling the engagement of said pawl, whereby said lever is adapted to elevate or depress said mounting.

9. In a mounting for a gun, a supporting structure, a cradle pivoted at one end to said structure, a lever pivoted on said cradle, a rigid projecting arm on said lever intermediate the ends thereof, a link pivotally coupled to the outer end of said arm and to said structure, a toothed rack on said cradle, a movable pawl on said lever for selective engagement with said rack when said lever is swung about its pivot, and means on said lever for controlling the engagement of said pawl, whereby said lever is adapted to elevate or depress said JOSEPH M. COLBY. 

